Disclaimer: I do not own anything, nothing significant at all. My net worth is a negative number. Nothing to sue here people. Move along. (imagine a hand waving).

Chapter 5: Big dealio

"I'm sorry," Was all Logan could choke out.

"For what? Logan, what is going on?" If Max had been a normal girl, she would be panicking by now. As a soldier, she was in 'threat' mode. She hadn't heard anything, and she thought her hearing was better than Logan's, but she could be wrong. She sat up and scanned the room. She was getting up to put on her shoes for a full reconnaissance, when Logan figured out that he was really scaring her.

"Max, we aren't in danger. I just …I didn't get you anything." He stammered.

Max just stared at him.

"It's Valentines Day. I should have gotten you something."

"That's what your upset about?" she yelled. He nodded. She smacked him in the chest. "You do not react like that unless we are in danger." She let out deep breath she had not realized that she was holding.

"Well, I did get hit." He offered meekly as he rubbed his chest.

"You scared me. I thought you were in danger, or I had said something totally wrong." she said quietly.

"No, you just reminded me it was Valentines Day. I haven't had to do anything about Valentines Day for a long time."

"You don't have to do anything for Valentines Day." Max stated, firmly. She thought for a moment then reiterated, "No." She sounded very certain; if only he understood what it was she was certain of.

"No?" He asked. He thought they had established they were …together.

"No. I am sure. No." She was satisfied with that answer.

Logan wasn't. "Why not?"

"For starters I never really got the whole V-day dealio to begin with."

"You've never gotten a Valentines Day present," he interrupted. All things considered, he didn't know why he was surprised. Apparently it was still sinking in how different their backgrounds were.

"That's not what I said. What I am trying to tell you is that you can forget about the clichés."

"You never got a Valentines Day present." He was certain of that.

"That is beside the point!" She was seriously starting to worry about Logan. Maybe he wouldn't even remember any of this when he recovered. Did she want that? He said he loved her, did he mean it like she thought? Or was it his impaired mental faculties? She should just get him to go back to sleep. He needed the rest. She would, she just had one point to make first. "Logan, neither one of us is exactly what you would call normal. You are Eyes Only, famous underground cyber-journalist, one of the last honest men, and probably the only true hero left in this broken world. I am a fugitive from a secret government agency with a freak show for a body that I don't have an owner's manual for. Traditional isn't going to work for us. I was kind of hoping that instead of trying to fit into the traditional roles that I don't really understand and would probably screw up anyhow, that you and I could just kinda … make it up as we go along."

Logan put his hand under her chin and lifted her face to his so that he could look her in the eyes. Wow, Max really thought he was a hero. He could scarcely believe it. "That sounds wonderful, Max."

She rewarded him by snuggling close and purring.

He held her close and chuckled lightly. "You like that."

"So do you!" She accused.

"Oh, yes! Max, I cannot even begin to describe how …wonderful it made me feel when you told me you had never in your life felt as safe, happy, peaceful as you did in my arms. I will never get over that. I …" he paused, searching for the right words. Finally, softly "There are no words."

She smiled. Wow, Logan Cale, man of letters, speechless but she understood. Sometimes words were just inadequate, clumsy. Sometimes words could only get in the way. Sometimes words must be discarded. She nodded, and snuggled contentedly up to her only love.

Logan reached out to find no one. His heart sank briefly that he had awoken alone, and then he realized he was back at the cabin. His elation that he was dreaming lasted two seconds before he was really miserable about being alone. Dammit. He sat up and looked around. He was at the cabin again, in front of the fire, naked, whole, in the folded out sofa-bed. He was where he was supposed to be; where was Max? He assumed it was too much to ask. Just because they were together, whatever that was going to mean for them, didn't necessarily mean he was going to be having erotic dreams about her. Apparently there were limits even to 'making it up as you go'. Dammit!

Logan was sitting in front of the fire, sulking about boring dreams, when he heard the water running from the bathroom. He literally jumped over the back of the couch and ran into the bathroom. This was where the bathroom in the cabin was supposed to be, but it was the huge whirlpool tub from his apartment. Strange, but he didn't care. There was Max! She looked so beautiful, illuminated by the candles. She took his breath away.

He must have made a noise, because she looked up at him. She smiled, and then her gaze wondered down his body, his naked and ready body. She gasped, averted her eyes and suddenly became aware of her own state of undress. She pulled her legs up to her body and hugged them to her.

Logan grinned. She was blushing! That was just too cute. Well, he guessed that was because this was their first time. Okay, not yet, but he had every intention of this being their first time. Not that he hadn't fantasized about it before, but this was the first real …What was he thinking? WHY was he thinking? Just go with it. He looked at Max. She was peeking at him, but her eyes had not made it all the way up to his face yet. He knew he must have a huge grin on his face, but he couldn't help it. He didn't want to.

Logan knelt down beside the tub. Max looked up shyly when he knelt down beside her.

"Is this your dream, or mine?" she asked.

Hmmm, That was exactly what he asked last time. Last time they …shared a dream? Hmmm. Investigate later, right now, if she thinks this is her dream, she will be more relaxed, more likely to answer certain questions. Logan was pleased his usually sharp mind had finally decided to start functioning again.

"I am yours." he murmured huskily. It was the truth.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I am here for you. Max…" he reached into the tub to touch her. "Let me …"

She moved forward in the tub. He took it as an invitation and stepped in behind her. He heard the slight intake of her breath at the sight of him.

"You can walk." she offered lamely.

"I am whole and complete, because I have never not been that to you." he answered sincerely as he wrapped his arms around her. She melted, as expected. She turned to him and kissed him. For an endless time they just explored each other. Kissing, touching, caressing. Logan delighting in the tiny ripples in the water each time Max purred for him.

Eventually Logan let the cooling water out of the tub. He helped Max out and dried her off with the softest towel she had ever felt, but maybe it was just that everything was better now. He finished and gazed down into her eyes, his face only inches away. "I've dreamed about sweeping you off your feet and carrying you to bed. May I?"

She nodded. He kissed her, then swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. As he laid her down on the bed she appeared to blush. "Now what?" she asked.

Logan was amused by Max acting girly and shy. If she had to ask … "I have a lot to teach you. So much I want to give to you."

Max giggled. "You're not modest are you? Oh, yes, so much, lots, huge!" as she glanced purposefully down his body.

Logan had to laugh. Life with Max would never be dull. He reached to claim her and she surrendered herself to his ministrations.

Many hours later Logan lay contentedly back in the bed, gently caressing a very sated Max. He would have been congratulating himself on his genius, if this had been his idea. He had become a real fan of 'mind over matter' and 'making it up as we go along'. He did have to admit it was perfect. They did have to worry about his blown out spinal cord, birth control, anyone hearing or seeing them, bug bites or even the stamina limitations of his over thirty year old body. Not that he had been this able, this often, even as a teenager. Yes, mind over matter was truly awesome. Still there were limitations; eventually they were going to have to wake up, and somehow he sensed that time was drawing near. He couldn't put it off any more.

"Max?" he began.

"OK. I admit you have every right to be arrogant. You are incredible." she answered.

At least in his dreams, he thought ruefully, but lovely to hear. Still, not where this conversation needed to go. He needed to find out what was wrong with Max's feline DNA, and she was very good at dodging. "I have an idea."

She grinned seductively and reached for him. "Another one?"

Focus, Logan, focus! This could be important, and you don't have much time left. "Not that kind of idea." He grinned at her pouty lips. "I know there is something about your feline DNA you don't like, and you aren't sure how to tell me in the real world." At least he was hoped that was the only reason for her reluctance. "So, I was thinking. You could tell me now, and we could figure out how to break it to the real me." He knew he was reaching here, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

"It's about my …cycles," she began.

Logan was happy she was going for this, hoping this was going to work. "Cycles?" he gently prodded when she seemed to not know how to continue.

"I am mostly human, but the cycles are …feline. You know, cats? Mating cycles?" She didn't elaborate.

"Oh …Cycles. So you go into …wow!" Logan was waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was supposed to be something bad here. "How often?"

"Usually three times a year." She was watching Logan carefully for his reaction.

"How long do they last?" Logan carefully kept calm.

"Two days."

"How does this effect your normal monthly menstrual cycles?" he asked. Logan was probing, there was something here that had Max upset; he just needed to find it. Quickly.

"I don't have them. Never did. Maybe Manticore decided the blood loss would be excessive for a soldier, maybe this is just another of their screw ups. I don't know." She looked so unhappy.

Logan was still looking for the bad here. "Maybe they thought PMS in the trenches would be a really bad idea?" He offered her a reassuring smile. Finally she smiled. "That's it?" He asked, not quite able to believe it.

She nodded. "You're not freaked out?" she asked so uncertain.

As far as Logan was concerned, this dream had gotten weird. His girlfriend had just told him he never had to worry about PMS, menstruation, or having to go purchase feminine hygiene supplies for her, but she did turn into a nympho for a couple of days three times a year. And she was acting like she expected him to think any of this was a bad thing. He was definitely dreaming. No way that this was true, it was too good. Still, he better answer her.

"Of course not. Max, I know who you are. You have nothing to be ashamed of. This is not going to bother me. I might be a little worried about being able to …satisfy you, but I guess I better get busy and read that folder. How long until the next, um, cycle?"

"Probably a couple of weeks, maybe a month." she answered.

"You should probably tell me so I can get started reading. That isn't much time." He was covering his bases here. Rationally he knew this was too good to be true, but not so long ago he had thought that Max would never settle for a cripple. So, who knew?

"You're sure you're not going to freak out?"

"Absolutely."

"So how should I break it to you?" she asked.

Odd, she was still acting like there was bad news here. Fortunately for Logan all Max could tell is that he was thoughtfully considering how to answer her question, not the specific details of why it was difficult. Finally the downside occurred to him, and he knew how to answer.

"Any way you tell me will be fine, but tell me. I know who you are; I am not going to think any less of you. This is not your fault. It would be better if you give me warning so that I can read the file, but no matter what come to me. Even if you give me no warning at all. My hands work, my mouth works, I have a massaging shower head on hand control … and we have our dreams. I will think of something. Come to me. I know you could find another man with …functional…" Logan broke off, pained. Reality, his reality, was not nearly as pleasant as this dream and it was pulling him away swiftly.

Max held him tight, hoping to comfort. "I'll tell you. I will not be around anyone but you. I have been locking myself in my room, but locking us in your room sounds much better." She smiled at him, hoping to convey her love and devotion. "If nothing else the food will be a lot better."

"I promise." As he pulled her close and let himself wake up.

To be continued